At some restaurants, getting the wine list can feel like a pop quiz. Sure, maybe you know you like a chardonnay, but do you really need to spend $70 to get a good one or will the $35 bottle work?
VINU is an iPad-based wine menu that helps restaurant patrons pick the right wine for them. It’s the first product of Sponsiv Digital, an Austin-based startup that facilitates alcohol sales and education at restaurants and stores.
“It's very overwhelming for most of us to select a wine,” said Sponsiv CEO Paul Saper. “In reality, the only column on the wine list that we really understand is the price line.”
With VINU (rhymes with menu), users can get a lot more information before making a purchase. Instead of a static sheet, users get an iPad loaded up with all the wines in stock. They’re presented not just as a list of names, but as a carousel of actual bottles so users can spot familiars labels.
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But it’s also good for the restaurants.
“We miss out on a real wine adventure and the restaurant misses out on a revenue opportunity,” Saper said. “But it's not just about the money, it's about the relationship the restaurant wants to have with the guest. They want to be known to be helpful and having an interesting, engaging dining experience. But if the wine list is confusing and intimidating, the guest experience can't be outstanding.”
VINU can also take the strain off waiters, who may not know how to help patrons pick the right wine like a trained sommelier. And those who don’t know much about wine may be too embarrassed to ask for a waiter’s opinion, let alone that of a sommelier.
However, even VINU’s interactive wine list can be overwhelming to novice drinkers. The app has a number of ways to narrow down the options, from basic filters to personality quizzes. Users can even look at celebrities’ favorite wines to drink like the stars.
Restaurants can also post selected wines that pair well with certain dishes or ones recommended by the chef.
For Sponsiv, this is just the first step into the world of helping people understand wine. They’re currently working on a new app called Cellar Master for wine bars and lounges, which aims to be a one-stop solution for flights and small menus.
According to Saper, VINU is already in use across 12 time zones, including at the Fairmont Hotel in Bermuda, in the VIP areas of the LA Angels’ stadium and on a handful of cruise lines. They’re currently getting ready for launches in Singapore and the Middle East.
Sponsiv, co-founded by Saper, his wife and his son, has remained bootstrapped so far, but they're currently raising capital in order to build out a sales organization as it creates new apps for the alcohol industry. The company is headquartered in Austin, but also operates in New York.
Image via VINU
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